Chestnut coming from the north of Spain and Portugal is known as Sweet Chestnut and it is available in a wide range of qualities and sizes. It is a hardwood which is very much appreciated both for decorative purposes and constructive applications.

Sweet Chestnut is fairly dense and hard. It is generally described as strong and elastic. This lumber does not shrink and presents a good dimensional stability once it has been dried. The heartwood of the sweet chestnut has a good natural durability, even when exposed directly to the wheatear action. Moreover, the sweet chestnut has proven to be one of the most durable woods under water.

Wood of the sweet chestnut can be easily worked with most tools and machines. It is straightforward to drill, plane, mill and sand. It is also often used for carving and turning. As it has a high content of tannic acid and it is also easy to split, it has been widely used for barrel staves. Surface finishing presents no problems as it can be stained or painted.